Winding drums



Jan. 9, 1962 J. R. MARCUS 3,016,212

WINDING DRUMS Filed Feb. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

nv VEA/TO/F J. 1?. MA R606 mm Q ATmR/VE/ Jan. 9, 1962 J. R. MARCUS 3,016,212

WINDING DRUMS Filed Feb. 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

n T 4 l m vzswro/r J. EMA R606 A TTORNE) 3,016,212 WINDING DRUMS Jerome R. Marcus, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Western Electric Company,'lnc0rporated, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of New York 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 5,801

- 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-72) This invention relates to Winding drums and more particularly. to a collapsible winding drum that may be selectively expanded to grip wire or other similar strand material therein prior to a winding operation.

'It is a prime object of this invention to provide a new and improved selectively expansible and contractible winding drum. I

Numerous collapsible arbors, mandrels, reels and other similar winding drums have been developed in an attempt to provide a simple yet positive acting take-up device, the expansion of which to a winding drum simultaneously accomplishes a positive gripping of strand material to be wound thereon. These developments have, however, failed to provide such a device and in lieu thereof, the

' general practice has been to incorporate a separate and distinct structural entity to accomplish the gripping of the strand material which functions independently of the expanding and contracting structure associated with the drum or reel.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the necessity of providing ancillary gripping means which function independently of the selective expansion and contraction of a drum whereon strand material is to be wound. l

A more finite object of this invention is to provide a winding drum having pivotally mounted selectively expansible and contractible drum segments that function to grasp the wire therebetween and retain the wire therein when in an expanded condition and to release the wire or strand material when the segments are contracted.

With these and other objects in view, the-present invention contemplates a drum mounted on a stand which supports instrumentalities for driving the drum in a predetermined direction. The drum comprises, among other things, a pair of substantially semi-circular pivotal drum segments having gripping surfaces formed at adjacent extremities thereof. The pivoting of the drum segments in an outward direction results in the gripping of strand material therebetween and occurs when the drum is expanded prior to a winding operation. The expansion of the drum is accomplished by the actuation of a crank arm secured to a central shaft about which the segments are mounted. A pair of eccentric devices interconnect the segments and the central shaft. The rotation of the crank arm initiates the reversal of the' eccentric devices and the pivoting of the drum segments to an expanded position, resulting in the simultaneous gripping of strand material by gripping extremities of the segments. Subsequent to a winding operation, the position of the crank arm is reversed, the segments are contracted to release the ends of the strand material, which thereafter may readily be removed therefrom.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a selectively expansible and contra'ctible winding drum embodying the principal features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view illustrating the collapsible winding drum in an expanded position with strand material secured therein by a pair of drum segments;

United States Patent 3,016,212 Patented J an; 9, 1962 which interconnect the segments and a central shaft;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 depicting the drum segments in the normally contracted position prior to the insertion of strand material therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 illustrating the relative positions of the eccentrics and other associated structure with the drum in the normally contracted position; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view. of a double eccentric illustrating the oppositely disposed'eccentric and central concentric portions thereof.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. '1 and 2, there is disclosed a support structure comprising a stand 11 and a motor mounting-12. The motor mounting is bored to accommodate a central spindle 13. The spindle 13 is secured to and-drives a collapsible winding drum generally designated .by the numeral 14. Rotary motion is imparted to the spindle 13 and accordingly to the drum 14 by a motor 16 through a chain drive 17. I

Wire or other similar strand material 10 is fed to the drum from a supply thereof (not shown) through a plurality of guide rollers 18. Two guide rollers are rotatably mounted horizontally and two vertically within four L-shaped support plates 19 that are secured to the support stand 11. a

A wire gripping slot or recess 21 is provided by the drum 14 whereto the ends of several lengths of strand material may be fed through the guide rollers 18 and wherein the ends may be securely positioned and gripped prior to a windingoperation. The positioning of the ends of strand material within the recess 21 is facilitated by maintaining the drum in a normally contracted position (FIG. 5). This is accomplished through the action of a locking pin 22 which engages a portion of the drum 14 thereby precluding a crank arm 23 to which the pin is secured from rotation. The crank arm, when rotated, cooperates with the other elements of the collapsible drum to selectively expand or contract the drum as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the collapsible drum 14 comprises, among other things, a pair of substantially semi-circular drum segments 24 and 26 that form the outer peripheral surface of the drum. The uppermost extremities 24A and 26A of the drum segments accomplish a grippingof the strand material 10 therebetween when the drum is in an expanded position (FIG. 3). These drum segments and particularly the gripping extremities 24A and 26A are sufficiently resilient, to compensate for any minor variation in the diameter of the strand material being grasped therey-. l

, Projecting frorn'the inner surface of each of the drum segments are a pair of flanges 29. The uppermost portions of the flanges29 are bored to receive a rod 27 about I which the drum segments are pivotally mounted. Additiona thelowermost portions of the flanges are drilled to accommodate a pair of connecting rods 32 and 33. These connecting rods project beyond the surfaces of the flanges 29 and through apertures bored in the converging extremities of four linkingarms 28. Cotter pins 34 maintain the surfaces of the flanges 29 in close proximity to the inner, surfaces of the linking arms 28.

The linking arms 28 extend inwardly from the flanges 29 of the drum segments toward a shaft'30 and bea'ring or business'surfaces formed therein encompass the outer periphery of alternate and oppositely disposed eccentric portions 31A of a pair of double eccentrics generally designated by the numeral 31. The eccentrics 31 are in turn mounted on the shaft 30 to which the crank arm 23.is secured by a pin 35.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the oppositely disposed eccentric portions 31A of the double eccentrics 31 have interposed therebetween a central concentric portion 31B.

An H-shaped hub member, generally designated by the numeral 36 having a pair of end plates 37 is secured by a key 41 to the: central spindle 13 for rotary movement therewith. The lower portions of the end plates 37 as viewed in FIGS. 3 and are bored and surround the central concentric portions 31B of the double eccentrics 31. The upper extremities of the plates 37 are drilled to secure the rod 27 therein.

A central flanged bushing or sleeve 38 is interposed between and secured to the double eccentrics 31 by a pair of pins 39. This bushing insures that the double eccentrics 31 and the members associated therewith will move as a unit. Accordingly, rotation of the crank arm 23 will result in movement of the double eccentrics within the bushing surfaces of the linking arms 28 and the end plates 37. This movement of the eccentrics will impart lateral motion to the linking arms 23 thereby pivoting the drum segments 24 and 26 about the rod 27.

Made of operation The ends of the lengths of strand material to be wound are placed within the recess 21 with the drum 14 in the normally contracted position (FIG. 5). The drum 14 is maintained in this contracted state by positioning the locking pin 22 in a recess 42 formed in one converging extremity of the forwardmost linkingarm 28 (FIG. 6). The removal of the locking pin 22 from the recess 42 permits the crank arm 23 to be pivoted in a clockwise direction. The pivoting of the crank arm 23 will be transmitted. to the double eccentrics 31 resulting in the concomitant rotation thereof. As the eccentric portions move within the bushing surfaces of the linking arms 28, a lateral motion will be imparted to the lower portions of the drum segments 24 and 26 resulting in an outward pivotal action thereof about the rod 27.

The expansion of the drum segments due to the pivoting of the crank arm 23 will continue until the locking pin 22 is aligned with a recess 43 formed on the oppositely disposed portion of the forwardrnost connecting rod 28. When released, the locking pin 22 will be urged by spring action into the recess 43 and the uppermost extremities of the drum segments 24 and 26' will securely grip and maintain the strand material within the recess 21 (FIG. 3).

When the motor 16 is rendered effective, rotary motion imparted to the spindle 13 will result in the clockwise rotation of the drum 1.4 as viewed in FIG. 2 and accordingly an accumulation of strand material thereon; Compact uniform winding of strand material on the expanded drum 14 during the rotation thereof is insured by a weighted belt device generally designated by the numeral 46.

The weighted belt device consists of a length of sheet material 47 such as leather or other durable material that is secured to a shaft 48 which is mounted within the support frame 11. .Secured to the lowermost extremity of the Sheet material 47 are a pair of weights 49 that function to urge the sheet material against the surface of the drum 14. As strand material is accumulated on the drum, the weights 49 will maintain the sheet material 47, which is substantially equal in width to the drum 14, in positive engagement therewith and compact the strand being wound thereon. I 1

Subsequent to the accumulation of a desired length of strand material on the reel 14, the motor 16 will be rendered inoperable to preclude further rotation of the drum. Thereafter, the locking pin 22 will be retracted from therecess 43, rotated in a counterclockwise direction and repositioned in the recess 42. As previously described, this rotation of the crank arm 23 will result in the movement of the double eccentrics 31 within the members 28 and will cause the'segrnents 24 and 26 to pivot about the rod 27 to a contracted position. This contracting of the drum 14 subsequent to a winding operation not only frees the ends of the strand material previously held within the recess 21 but also substantially decreases the size of the drum, resulting in the added convenience of allowing the strand material wound thereon to be readily removed therefrom.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of this invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible drum designed to grip and secure the end of a length of strand material therein when expanded and to facilitate the removal of strand material therefrom when contracted subsequent to a winding operation, which drum comprises an elongated hub, a pair of. end plates secured to said hub at. opposite extremities thereof, a rod extending between the upper extremities of said end plates, each of said end plates having. a substantially circular bearing surface bored in the lower extremity thereof, a pair of semi-circular drum segments pivotally mounted about said rod, said drum segments being constructed so that the extremities thereof adjacent said rod may grip and maintain strand material therebetween when said segments are pivoted to an'expanded position, a shaft, a

crank armsecured at one extremity of said shaft for controlling the movement thereof, a pair of double eccentrics each having a central concentric body and oppositely disposed eccentric portions on either side thereof, said doubleeccentrics being mounted at opposite extremities of said shaft and having the central concentric bodies thereof rotatably mounted within the bearing surfaces of said end plates, linking arms mounted about the eccentric portions of said double eccentrics and secured to said pivotally mounted drum segments, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and secured at the opposite extremities thereof to said eccentrics, and means for securing said crank arm to a first of said eccentrics whereby actuation of said crank arm results in rotation of said eccentrics within said linking arms and the pivoting of said drum segments about said rod.

2. A collapsible winding drum which comprises an elongated hub, a pair of end plates secured to said hub at opposite extremities thereof, a rod secured within and extending between the upper extremities of said end plates in parallel spaced relationship to said hub, each of said end plates having a circular bearing surface formed in the lower extremity thereof, a pair of semi-circular drum segments pivotally mounted about said rod and arranged so that the extremities thereof adjacent said rod may grip and maintain strand material therebetween when said segments are pivoted to an expanded position, a shaft, a crank arm secured at one extremity of said shaft for controlling the movement thereof, a pair of double eccentrics mounted on said shaft for movement therewith, each of said double eccentrics having central concentric bodies and oppositely disposed eccentric portions on either side thereof, said double eccentrics being mounted on said shaft in spaced relationship so that the central concentric bodies thereof are rotatably positioned within the bearing surfaces. of said end plates, linking arms secured to said pivotally mounted drum segments and mounted about the eccentric portions of said double eccentrics, a spring-urged locking pin secured to said crank arm for movement therewith, a pair of recesses formed in the forwardmost linking arm to receive said locking pin upon the alignment of said crank arm therewith, and means for securing said crank arm 7 to a first of said eccentrics whereby actuation of said crank arm results in rotation of said eccentrics within said linking arms and the pivoting of said drum segments about said rod.

3. A collapsible winding drum for winding lengths of strand material thereon, which drum comprises an elongated hub member, a pair of end plates secured to said hub member at opposite extremities therof, a pivot rod secured within and extending between the upper portions of said end plates in parallel spaced relationship to the axis of said hub member, a pair of substantially semicircular drum segments, a pair of generally circumferential flanges formed on the inner surface of each of said drum segments, both of said pairs of flanges being pivotally mounted adjacent one edge of the corresponding drum segments about said rod, a pair of connecting rods, each of said connecting rods being positioned within axially aligned apertures formed in each of said pairs of flanges adjacent the opposite edge of the corresponding one of said drum segments, linking arms secured to opposite ends of said connecting rods so as to engage said flanges, a shaft, a crank arm secured at one extremity of said shaft for controlling the movement thereof, a pair of double eccentrics mounted on said shaft at opposite extremities thereof, each of said double eccentrics having a central concentric and a pair of oppositely disposed eccentric portions, said eccentric portions being positioned within bushing surfaces formed in said linking arms, said'central con- J centric portions of said double eccentrics being positioned within bushing surfaces formed in the lower extremities of said end plates, a sleeve mounted on said shaft and secured at the opposite extremities thereof to said eccentries, and means for securing said crank arm to a first of said eccentrics whereby actuation of said crank arm results in rotation of said eccentrics within said bushing surfaces of said linking arms thereby resulting in the pivoting of said drum segments about said rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

